Fair lead



1,509,711 R. K. CHAPMAN ET AL FAIR LEAD INVENTOR. Z6 70 /f. Chg 277a 26 rveafQ/Vsaer ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAY K. CHAPMAN AND ERNEST G. MESSEB, OF ZELMA, WASHINGTON.

FAIR LEAD.

Application filed October 8, 1923. Serial No. 687,268.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RAY K. CHAPMAN and ERNEST G. MEssER, citizens of the United States, residing at Elma, in the county of Grays Harbor and State of Wash ington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fair Leads, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fair leads.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character through which a plurality of lines can be directed and which is so constructed that it permits of shifting of the line from one sheave to another to compensate for variations in the angle of the line to the fair lead.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fair lead the sheave mounting of which is such that this mounting itself may be shifted so as to properly align the sheaves and line.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in its construction and operation, efficient and durable in service, and which may be very cheaply produced.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section showing a fair lead constructed in accordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing a front elevation of the fair lead;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a reduced front elevation showing a modified form of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a base having formed therein an arcuate notch 11 from which at the lower portion a slot 12 is formed extending vertically through the base. The base may be formed in any desired manner but is preferably formed by employing two plates 13 and 14 secured together, as at 15, the plates having their upper ed e arcuately notched and being each forme on its inner face with a notch 16, these notches 16 combining when the plates are in assembled relation to produce the slot 12. The adjacent faces of the plates 13 and 14 are notched, as at 17, about the arcuate edge thereof to provide a bearing face the purpose of which will presently appear.

The numeral 18 designates a sheave plate having formed therein sheave stalls 19. These sheave stalls are concentered upon the plate and are preferably four in number, pairs of stalls being opposed and adjacent stalls being at right angles to one another. Within each stall is pivoted a sheave 20, the stall being so constructed that the walls or side faces of the sheave are at all times in close engagement to the walls of the stall. In order to accomplish this the hub portions 21 of the sheave are countersunk into the walls of the stalls. By this manner of mounting the sheaves, the sheaves are held much more steadily in position and all liability of a cable 22 trained thereover passing between the edge of the sheave and the wall of the stall is eliminated. The sheaves 20 are each grooved in the periphery thereof and are so arranged that their peripheral grooves atthe lead opening 23 combine ,to define a substantially circular opening, the groove of each of the sheaves leading to the groove of the next adjacent sheave.

The sheave plate 18 is arcuately curved on its periphery and is provided. on opposite faces thereof with outstanding flanges 2a which seat upon the shoulders afforded by the groove 17 0f the plates 13 and 14 so that the sheave plate is supported for rotation about the lead opening 23 as a center. The sheave plate is held in position by means of arcuately curved plates 25 secured to the upper surfaces of the arcuate notches of the plates 13 and 14: and overlying the flanges 24: of the sheave plate. The sheave plate is further provided with an arcuate extension 26 dentated to form a rack which meshes with a gear 27 mounted upon a shaft 28 rotatable in bearings extended by the plates 13 and 1d. One end of this shaft projects beyond the face of its associated plate and has mounted thereon a pair of spaced ratchet gears 29 and 30, the former providing an adjusting rack while the latter forms a looking rack. Between the ratchet gears 29 and 30 a lever 31 is swiveled upon which is mounted a swinging pawl 32 which by its engagement with the rack 28 at one side or the other of the lever 31 determines the direction in which the shaft 28 will be rotated. Associated with the rack 30 is a swinging locking pawl 33 by means of which the shaft may be held against movement in either di rection.

It will be seen that by operating the lever 31 the fair leadmay be rotated to shift the same to any desired position. For example, if during initial operation of a donkey engine or the like the fair lead demands that the cables be guided by vertically arranged pulleys, the device will be employed as shown in solid lines in Figure 1. If during the pull the direction of the cables changes the cables Will either shift of themselves to the proper sheaves or the sheave plate may be rotated so as to properly position the sheaves, with which they are already engaged. While we have, in Figures 1 to 3, shown the base 10 with but a semi-circular notch and the sheave plate as skeletonized in the construction of the upper end thereof, it will of course be obvious that if desired the sheave plate can be made circular in form as shown in Figure 4: and the base constructed as shown in this figure so that a support is provided for the plate about the entire periphery thereof. Other changes being possible in the construction of the device as hereinbefore shown and described we do not limit ourselves to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

WVe claim 1. Ina fair lead, a base, a sheave plate mounted for rotation in the base, a plurality of concentered sheaves mounted in said sheave plate and each having a grooved periphery the peripheral grooves at the adjacent portions of the sheaves combining to define a substantially circular opening, the groove of each of said sheaves discharging into the groove of the next adjacent sheaves whereby side strain upon a cable engaged with any of said sheaves will shift the cable from the engaged sheave into engagement with a sheave adjacent thereto, and means carried by the base and coaoting with the sheave plate for rotating the sheave plate or for locking the sheave plate in adjusted position.

2. In a fair lead, a base having an arcuate slot formed therein, the edges of the walls of the slot being grooved, a sheave plate having an arcuately curved edge extending into the slot of the base and provided upon its side faces with flanges seating in said grooves, plates secured to the upper edges of the arcuate portion of the base and overlying said flanges to maintain said sheave plate in position upon the base, the plate bein provided with a recess communicating with said groove, a shaft extending transversely of the recess and having a pinion mounted thereon, the arcuately curved face of the sheave plate constituting a rack with which said pinion engages, one end of the shaft extending outwardly of the base and having mounted thereon an operating lever, a pair of ratchet disks secured to said shaft, a pawl carried by said lever and swingable to opposite sides of the lever to engage with the teeth of one of said ratchet disks whereby the shaft may be rotated in either direction, and a latching pawl pivoted to said base and engageable with the teeth of the other of said disks to lock the shaft against rotation in either direction.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures.

RAY K. CHAPMAN. ERNEST G. MESSER. 

